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Contributor puxkggn on Network Manager

A valuable network troubleshooting dialog  
Written by RyanFelder the 17 May 12 at 15:30. New
As a network engineer, I see reports from my own technical support department that miss some basic, valuable troubleshooting steps.

Network diagnostic tools in Ubuntu are intimidating and unintuitive for less technical users.
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Solution #1: A valuable network troubleshooting dialog
Written by RyanFelder the 17 May 12 at 15:30.
There should be an easy to read, pretty dialog that runs some basic troubleshooting steps and displays the results.

The idea is to assist helpdesk type support agents to resolve issues quickly, which would, in turn, help the end user.

I am connected wirelessly to the SSID 'abc123' using WPA2.
I can get an IP address. It is '192.168.10.170'
I can ping my gateway. It is '192.168.10.1'
I can do DNS lookups.
I can ping external ips by ip.
I can ping external ips by hostname.

I'm aware there are tools that provide this information, but providing it in an easy to find, non-scary, low-tech way would be very helpful for anyone who has to call a support department.

See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 19 Jun 12 at 01:02) >>

Implement way of telling user that there is a connection but no internet  
Written by tancrackers the 4 Dec 11 at 21:00. New
Please implement a method of telling the user that there is a wireless connection but not internet like Windows 7 does.

Sometimes my router goes nuts and will give me a wireless connection but I cannot connect to the internet.

All I have to do is unplug the router and plug it back in.

Though, on Ubuntu I only know when I try to go online and my homepages fails to load.

On Windows 7, the wireless icon in the taskbar shows the bars that represent the connection, but there is a yellow "caution" arrow on the wireless icon followed by a message that there is no internet connection.

Can you please implement something similar to this in Ubuntu so I can know right after log in that it is my router failing as opposed to something else?

Thank you!
105
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Solution #1: Perhaps some new icon to represent a connection w/o internet status
Written by tancrackers the 4 Dec 11 at 21:00.
http://pix.share32.org/s-images/wirelessicon.jpg
imagine that with a yellow ! or something
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Solution #4: Ping the DNS server
Written by ross9885 the 24 Dec 11 at 19:18.
Or ping the home page of the default browser, like SpyMasterMatt suggested. Show status in the icon and show a notification when status changes.
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Solution #5: Try root DNS servers and tooltip message
Written by EduardoR the 2 Jan 12 at 05:04.
Are many and may be tried in Round Robin manner.

But some networks may not "need" to be routed to internet to be connected, then must be *optional*.

Root servers are listed with dig command:
dig
ping a.root-servers.net

I really prefer to have an independent and configurable indicator. There are too many situations and can be very confusing. Best with a one time tooltip message.

The alert may be when no-IP address is offer by DHCP server o manual. Called local o IPv4 169.254.x.x. But is a another idea.
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Solution #6: Modify the existing indicator to show the status
Written by PaddyLandau the 1 Mar 12 at 16:36.
Windows does this well, with the indicator itself showing the status.

At present, the Ubuntu indicator shows four statuses: disconnected; trying to connect; connected via wireless; and connected via Ethernet.

Increase it to six statuses, as follows:
- Disconnected
- Trying to connect
- Connected via wireless
- Connected via Ethernet
- Connected via wireless, but no Internet access
- Connected via Ethernet, but no Internet access

I would imagine the last two being the same as the previous two but in red.

See the 12 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 6 Mar 12 at 10:02) >>

Reduce radio-frequency interferences in wireless-networks (wifi).  
Written by h.i.m the 31 Mar 11 at 12:10. Not an idea
A lot of devices are transmitting in 2.4GHz frequency (bluetooth-devices, microwave ovens) and most wireless networks affect each other. Even if they are not transmitting in the same channel. This is caused by a very small bandwidth available in 2.4Ghz.

The 5GHz-network uses a much bigger frequency range. If you compare the 2.4GHz-network (2,4–2,4835 GHz) and the 5GHz-network (5,15–5,725 GHz) (Europe) the usable bandwidth is nearly seven times bigger in 5GHz.


83
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closed
Solution #1: Wireless-networking: Prefer 5GHz over 2.4GHz frequency to reduce interferences.
Written by h.i.m the 31 Mar 11 at 12:10.
If the same network is available in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency than prefer 5GHz over 2.4Ghz to reduce radio-frequency interferences.
14
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Solution #2: Prefer channel with least interference
Written by puxkggn the 21 Apr 11 at 17:27.
Let the wifi cards use both channels.
Compare relative signal strength to noise ratio.
Then choose the one with the biggest signal to noise ratio.
Periodically checking out the other channel.

Thus minimizing interference for both frequencies.

See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 29 Jul 11 at 02:37) >>

Add WiMAX switcher to the Network Manager  
Written by Oleksa the 17 Feb 11 at 21:03. In development
WiMAX wireless connection becomes more popular and wide spread, however it is not supported in Ubuntu. Currently, if you succeed to set up the drivers, it can be seen as Ethernet wmx0 connection.
47
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inprogress
Selected solution (#1): Add special user interface for WiMAX connections
Written by Oleksa the 17 Feb 11 at 21:03.
I propose to add a special user interface for the WiMAX wireless network connection to the Network Manager similar to wifi, when a user can switch on/off, get specific information about the signal level, close base station, set up IP address, try to locate existing channels (providers), share the connection with others, possibility to change the power mode for the device etc. A special tab should be added in the Network Manager, as well.

Related link: http://cgit.freedesktop.org/NetworkManager/NetworkManager

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 16 Jul 11 at 14:11) >>